Fodor's Expert Review Mandranova

Set amid a vast olive grove, this tranquil rural retreat feels as if it's in the middle of nowhere yet is just a 20-minute drive from the UNESCO-listed temples of Agrigento. Rooms combine contemporary minimalism with original details (exposed sandstone walls, tiled floors, wooden beams) while the reception rooms in the main house—warmed by open fires in winter—have the feel of a refined aristocratic home, with old photographs, original stone floors, original paintings, intriguing sculptures, and a collection of rural curios. There is a gorgeous pool as well, and the owner, Silvia, hosts cooking lessons and olive oil tastings. In autumn you can take part in the olive harvest. Breakfast consists of lots of homemade cakes and seasonal fruits, and there are simple lunches of home-baked bread, salads, and local cheeses. A four-course dinner (whose menu changes every day) is served in the evenings. In good weather you can eat outside on the romantically lit cobbled terrace.